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Can a Doctor Hurt Your Injury Claim? Here’s What to Know and How to Prevent This

A medical report serves a vital role when it comes to the success of a personal injury claim. It is important to note before we begin that evidence is at the core of every successful personal injury claim as causation will help determine the damages you may be entitled to. After getting injured in a slip and fall incident, an auto accident, a dog bite in your neighborhood or had a child get injured at a playground or swimming pool, some of us may not feel as if it is important to go to the ER because sometimes, the extent of the injuries is not always apparent. However, even if you or your loved one feels OK, it is always best to see a doctor to not only receive treatment, but also a prognosis of what the future might look like as far as your injuries are concerned.

Doctors are trained medical professionals who will provide prompt medical treatment after an initial medical exam to determine the diagnosis, all the while noting down everything in a medical report. This report, along with investigative reports, eyewitness accounts and other vital information will be brought together during legal deliberations either during negotiations with the insurance company or courtroom litigation to conclusively prove you were injured and that you deserve to compensated for the other party’s negligence and their infliction of said injuries unto your person. In this post, we’ll take a look at ways in which a doctor may hurt your personal injury claim, as well as explore ways in which we can help right these wrongs for the purpose of getting you the compensation you deserve – read on to find out more.

Contact Us Today for Trusted Personal Injury Representation

Are you looking for the best personal injury lawyer? Please call us NOW at (314) 481-63338 to learn more about your legal options for justice and compensation. The experienced injury attorneys at McCready Law have over 90 years of combined legal experience where we’ve helped tens of thousands of injured Americans from all over the country who sustained injuries due to the negligent actions of other individuals or large businesses and corporations. To date, we’ve been able to recover over $260 million for our clients, highlighting our excellence and commitment to success.

Our success is due to a number of factors that you may never experience in other law firms for instance having Bonafide and experienced attorneys handling claims and not paralegals as is common with most law firms, providing you access with the best physicians, investigators and experts who will all work together to provide cohesive answers and solutions to your legal quandaries.

In addition, we are not afraid to litigate as we have the resources and experience as far as taking cases to trial when needed, particularly when the insurance company is engaging in bad faith negotiations from the start. Conversely, most law firms simply engage in insurance company negotiations as this is often a faster way to resolve claims, but often end in the injured party receiving a paltry payout. We run a bilingual firm (hablamos Español), and we have nationwide presence thanks to our network of trusted and experienced referral law firms and attorneys.

All cases are taken up on contingency fee basis, which simply means that there are ZERO UPFRONT FEES for the duration of the processing of the claim, as we only levy our fees at the end of the suit, and only if we’ve recovered compensation on your behalf. If you or a loved one suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence, please give us a call NOW at (314) 481-63338 to learn more about your legal options for justice and compensation – our intake team is standing by.

Doctor’s Actions Which May Harm Your Injury Claim

Here are some of the ways in which your doctor may hurt your injury claim:

Inconsistent Medical Documentation

Inconsistent medical documentation is a no-no when it comes to personal injury claims because this may be used against you to prove that you were not injured or at least not to the extent you say you were. For instance, if your doctor writes that you suffered deep open gashes but later notes that you suffered cuts and bruises, this could cast aspersions on your and their credibility. The problem with inconsistencies is that they may create doubt in the opposing counsel, jury or judge’s brain, and opposing counsel may also use and exploit these inconsistencies.

Lack of Sufficient Details in Medical Reports

A comprehensive medical report provides the insurance company or judge with a lot of actionable or useful information on injury and treatment. Lack of adequate details may leave gaps in understanding when it comes to the impact and severity of the injury. A comprehensive medical report must have a specific diagnosis, the treatment plan and duration, as well as prognosis and recovery timeline.

Unclear Language and Terminology

Medical jargon can be ambiguous sometimes, and confuse the court, jury and insurance company. Using language such as “may” or “possibly” may cast doubt on the severity of injuries. Due to the high stakes nature of injury claims, a doctor should not include non-committal terms, ambiguous recovery statements, and should add definitive conclusions so as to leave no doubt regarding your injury and its severity.

Failure to Refer to Specialists

Doctors such as primary care physicians are usually trained in one specialty, making them the first stop for injured individuals. However, due to the complex nature of injuries, referral to a specialist may be needed so as to complete treatment. Failing to refer a patient to a specialist when needed may bring about a perception of the injury not being as severe or seriousness as on claims it to be.

Best Countrywide Injury Attorneys – Call Us Today!

Medical treatment after suffering an injury is essential when it comes to proving the legitimacy of a personal injury claim. However, just as treatment is important, so is the choice of a good and experienced physician. Don’t gamble with your future – give us a call NOW at (314) 481-63338 so we can refer you to our trusted medical experts which will enhance and strengthen your claim going forward, resulting in a sizeable and appropriate compensation. Thanks for choosing McCready Law, and we look forward to helping you.